Patent Application

App. No. 12/604,076

Abstract

Claims (32)

1 . A method of updating a mobile dialing number of a telematics-equipped mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, via a processor operatively associated with an automated system at a call center, a mobile dialing number update trigger in response to an event, the call center being in selective and operative communication with an activated telematics unit having a first mobile dialing number;

recognizing the mobile dialing number update trigger via the automated system;

in response to the recognizing, via the automated system, initiating a mobile dialing number update routine; and

selectively automatically updating, via the automated system, the first mobile dialing number with a second mobile dialing number in response to the mobile dialing number update routine.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the event includes a transfer of ownership of the mobile vehicle, wherein the mobile dialing number update routine includes recognizing a new vehicle owner, and wherein selectively automatically updating includes automatically performing the updating in response to the recognition of the new user so that the first mobile dialing number is replaced with the second mobile dialing number.

3 . The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the transfer of ownership of the mobile vehicle occurs between private parties, and wherein prior to the recognizing of the mobile dialing number update trigger, the method further comprises uploading a delivery record of the mobile vehicle to the call center.

4 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the event includes a change in the garage address of the mobile vehicle, and wherein prior to recognizing the mobile dialing update trigger, the method further comprises updating a user profile with a new garage address, the updating being accomplished by accessing a remotely accessible page in selective and operative communication with the call center.

5 . The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the recognizing of the mobile dialing update trigger includes recognizing that the new garage address is outside of a local area code, a local zip code, or a local rate center associated with a previous garage address.

6 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the recognizing that the new garage address is outside of the local area code, the local zip code, or the local rate center includes:

comparing the previous garage address with the new garage address; and

determining that an area code associated with the new garage address is different from the local area code, the local zip code, or the local rate center associated with the previous garage address.

7 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein upon recognizing that the new garage address is outside of the local area code, the local zip code, or the local rate center associated with the previous garage address, the method further comprises prompting for authorization to automatically update the mobile dialing number of the vehicle.

8 . The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the prompting is accomplished in real time in response to the recognizing that the new garage address is outside of the local area code, the local zip code, or the local rate center associated with the previous garage address.

9 . The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the prompting is accomplished by sending, to an electronic device associated with the user profile, an e-mail, an SMS, a text message, a voice call, or combinations thereof.

10 . The method as defined in claim 7 wherein when the authorization is made, the method further includes automatically updating the first mobile dialing number with the second mobile dialing number.

11 . The method as defined in claim 7 wherein when the authorization is declined, prior to selectively automatically updating the mobile dialing number, the method further comprises overriding the selective automatic update so that the first mobile dialing number remains in the telematics unit.

12 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the second mobile dialing number includes an area code local to a then-current garage address of the mobile vehicle.

13 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the event includes a change in a home phone number associated with the mobile vehicle, and wherein prior to recognizing the mobile dialing update trigger, the method further comprises updating a user profile with a new home phone number, the updating being accomplished by accessing a remotely accessible page in selective and operative communication with the call center.

14 . A system for updating a mobile dialing number of a telematics-equipped mobile vehicle, comprising:

an activated telematics unit operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle, the activated telematics unit having a first mobile dialing number;

means for generating a mobile dialing update trigger in response to an event; and

a call center in selective and operative communication with the activated telematics unit, the call center including an automated system having a processor including computer readable medium encoded with:

computer readable code for recognizing the mobile dialing number update trigger;

computer readable code for initiating, in response to the recognizing, a mobile dialing update routine; and

computer readable code for selectively automatically updating the first mobile dialing number with a second mobile dialing number in response to the mobile dialing number update routine.

15 . The system as defined in claim 14 wherein: the event includes a transfer of ownership of the mobile vehicle; the mobile dialing update routine includes computer readable code for recognizing a new vehicle owner; and the computer readable code for selectively automatically updating the first mobile dialing number includes computer readable code for performing the updating in response to the recognition of the new vehicle owner so that the first mobile dialing number is replaced with the second mobile dialing number.

16 . The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the transfer of ownership occurs between private parties, and wherein the system further comprises a remotely accessible page configured to have uploaded thereto a delivery record of the mobile vehicle to the call center.

17 . The system as defined in claim 14 wherein the event includes a change in the garage address of the mobile vehicle or a home phone number associated with the mobile vehicle, and wherein the system further comprises a remotely accessible page in selective and operative communication with the call center, the remotely accessible page configured to be used for updating a user profile with a new garage address or a new home phone number.

18 . The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the computer readable code for recognizing the mobile dialing number update trigger includes computer readable code for recognizing that the new garage address is outside of a local area code, a local zip code, or a local rate center associated with a previous garage address.

19 . The system as defined in claim 17 , further comprising an electronic device associated with the user profile and configured to receive a prompt from the automated system for authorization to automatically update the mobile dialing number of the mobile vehicle.

20 . The system as defined in claim 14 wherein the second mobile dialing number includes an area code local to a then-current garage address of the mobile vehicle.

Assignments (8)